The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission has unanimously voted to shorten the 2006 mixed meet at Prairie Meadows to resolve an impasse between the track and the state's harness racing association over purses.

The commission mandate states that Prairie must run a 45-day Thoroughbred meeting next year followed by a 36-day mixed meeting. Both the Iowa Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Iowa Quarter Horse Racing Association had signed contracts with Prairie for 2006 calling for a 45-day Thoroughbred meeting followed by a 45-day mixed meeting.

Prairie Meadows stewards have suspended veterinarian Robert McFarlin for 150 days and fined him $1,000 for administering the unapproved medication bufexamac, which resulted in four positive tests at the track.

BOSSIER CITY, La. - The featured race on the second day of the Fair Grounds meet at Louisiana Downs is, appropriately enough, for Louisiana-breds. But the Sarah Lane's Oates Handicap is not the best race on the Sunday card.

That distinction goes to race 7, a high-end turf allowance for statebreds at about 1 1/16 miles. The course, rested for more than six weeks since the end of the Louisiana Downs meet, is sparkling. And so is this field.

MIAMI - Just when you think you've seen it all in this sport, along comes Friday's second race at Calder.

The second half of the early double appeared simple enough on paper, a maiden $32,000 claiming race for 2-year-old fillies going a mile. But by the time the field had run an eighth of a mile it was obvious this was not going to be any ordinary race.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Gumboots hasn't taken a wrong step yet and will be heavily backed as she goes for her third successive victory in the $139,875 Glorious Song Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine.

The Glorious Song, a seven-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies, attracted a field of nine, including five American-breds.

Gumboots is coming off a victory over Ontario-foaled rivals in the six-furlong Fanfreluche on Oct. 29. She won her maiden at the same distance Aug. 27.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Reade Baker already has enjoyed a career year at Woodbine, with meet-leading totals of 10 stakes wins and almost $3.8 million in purse money heading into the final four weekends of the meeting.

Baker will be looking to put some icing on the cake before heading south for the winter, beginning with Perigee Girl here in Sunday's $139,875 Glorious Song Stakes for 2-year-old fillies.

ALBANY, Calif. - Trainer Gloria Buckridge couldn't be happier that Sunday's Golden Gate Fields feature, a one-mile first-level allowance race on the turf, was split into two divisions of 10 runners.

"We got the best half for him," she said of Taco Willy, a hard- knocker who has become one of northern California's most consistent turf runners. "I know there are some nice runners in there, but the race sets up for him with the speed in there."

from northern California.

ANDERSON, Ind. - Tin Man Commin and Mr. Mink, the previous two winners of the To Much Coffee Stakes, return in Sunday's edition of the 1 1/16-mile race, which drew a field of eight older Indiana-breds.

The duo will likely also have to deal with Pass Rush, who was cross-entered in Saturday's $100,000 Schaefer Mile against open company.

AUBURN, Wash. - Steve Walters will be stepping down as chairman of the Oregon Racing Commission as of Jan. 1, and his absence is sure to be felt by the state's entire racing industry.

Walters, who is moving to San Francisco to head his law firm's litigation department, has served on the ORC since 1991 and has helped to guide the industry through some very turbulent times. He said he is most proud of two accomplishments during his tenure.

Attila's Storm, the fourth-place finisher in last month's Breeders' Cup Sprint, won't be running in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 after all.

After moving into the main body of the field from the also-eligible list on Thursday, when one horse was withdrawn, Attila's Storm was scratched from the De Francis on Friday by trainer Richard Schosberg.

According to Schosberg, the 3-year-old Attila's Storm, who would have had to break from post 14 in the six-furlong De Francis, will instead run in the $100,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct on Thanksgiving Day.